January 17, 2012
Johns Hopkins launches specialized Chinese language program
Johns Hopkins University has launched Johns Hopkins-China STEM, a Chinese language and research program tailored to the science, technology, engineering and medical professions. Designed for English-speaking scholars with a strong foundation in Mandarin Chinese and academic training in engineering or the health sciences, the eight-week program is now accepting applications and will commence this summer at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center in Nanjing, China.
“Johns Hopkins–China STEM will help to satisfy a growing demand at Hopkins and around the world for Chinese language training in technical fields,” said Kellee Tsai, vice dean for humanities and social sciences at the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, who led the program’s planning process. “Many of the great STEM breakthroughs are now occurring in China, and it is imperative that English-speaking researchers and innovators learn to communicate with their Asian counterparts to share this knowledge with the rest of the world. Just as important, many Western advances are yet to reach all corners of the East, due in part to technical language barriers.”
Set to begin on June 25, the eight-credit program will immerse students in rigorous language training and experiential research trips to laboratories, hospitals and academic institutions in Nanjing and Beijing. The program will enroll up to 20 scholars in the inaugural session, divided into two courses of study: Chinese for Engineers and Health Sciences Chinese. Students will experience a challenging, concentrated curriculum designed by faculty members at Johns Hopkins and leading experts in the field of Chinese language pedagogy.
With support from the Henry Luce Foundation and spearheaded by faculty and administrators in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins–China STEM will be supported by and available to students and faculty from across the university and from external institutions.
“College and professional school graduates with first-rate language training in specialized areas will enter today’s transnational job market with a competitive advantage,” said Tobie Meyer-Fong, an associate professor in the History Department, who is one of the program’s planners. “Hopkins-China STEM offers a unique opportunity for students to be at the forefront of a global scientific future.”
The Johns Hopkins–China STEM program is accepting applications and admittances to the first class, which will be notified by March 30. Applications are due by March 1, with financial aid priority given to those who apply before Jan. 30.
For more information, go to krieger.jhu.edu/chinastem or email chinastem@jhu.edu.